News Release

THE ORCHESTRA AT WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY OPENS 14th CONCERT SEASON WITH NEW NAME "The Orchestra at William Paterson University," formerly the Wayne Chamber Orchestra, begins its 14th concert season in residence at the university with a new schedule of performances on both Friday and Saturday evenings. The concerts will be held at 8 p.m. in Shea Center. Three of last year's conductors, Kay George Roberts, Gideon Grau, and David Wroe, will return again this season. The new name for the ensemble, which was established in 1986, "reflects the Orchestra's commitment to expand its services and address the needs and interests of a broader geographical area," says William Houston, executive director of the Orchestra. The season opens on Friday, October 29, 1999 with Boston conductor Kay George Roberts leading the orchestra. Roberts, praised by critics as a "commanding presence, full of power and fire," will conduct Alec Wilder's "Suite for tenor sax and strings" with David Demsey, William Paterson professor of music, as tenor saxophone soloist. On Saturday, December 4, 1999, Anne Breckling, music director and conductor of the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, will direct the Orchestra in a special holiday presentation of Handel's "Messiah." The season continues on February 19, 2000 as Gideon Grau, music director and conductor of the Palo Alto Symphony, conducts a program featuring violinist Brian Lewis as soloist for Bernstein's "Serenade for Violin" as well as works by Mozart and Bloch. On April 15, 2000, the season concludes with a performance by the winner of the Orchestra's annual Mae and Fletcher Fish Young Artist Competition, and works by Stravinsky and Hanson. David Wroe, music director of New Jersey's Westfield Symphony Orchestra, will conduct. Standard subscriptions for the four-concert series are $80 and $60. Subscriptions for the William Paterson community, including faculty, staff, alumni and students, are $15. Single tickets at $25 and $20 are also available. Tickets for William Paterson students and university faculty, staff, and alumni with ID are $5. The Orchestra at William Paterson represents an exciting collaboration of musical talent drawn from the University's faculty artists and gifted student instrumentalists performing with established, professional metropolitan area musicians. It is supported in part by a grant from the Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council, through a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State. In addition, the orchestra is underwritten in part by William Paterson University and supported by gifts from private individuals, area businesses and corporations. The ensemble has gained national recognition both for its excellence of performance and imaginative programming. For information on the concert series, please call the Shea Center Box Office at 973-720-2371. ### Release date: August 25, 1999 For Further Information, contact: Mary Beth Zeman, Director Office of Public Information 973-720-2966 Terry Ross, Newswriter 973-720-2205 ### Back to News Releases